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Princess Suvadhana ( th, สุวัทนา; , 15 April 1906 – 10 October 1985) was the royal consort of King Vajiravudh (or Rama VI) of
Khmer-Siam Royal Family Tree
'' Retrieved 27 January 2013 When Suvadhana became pregnant in 1925, the King elevated her rank to that of Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana (HRH Princess Suvadhana, Princess Consort of Siam; th, พระนางเจ้าสุวัทนา พระวรราชเทวี). Not soon after the King fell gravely ill, on the 24 November 1925, Suvadhana gave birth to a daughter, Princess
The Princess and her daughter continued to live at the
Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
* 
King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
* 
King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal (Second Class)
* 
King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
* 
The Red Cross Commendation Medal
Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana Kreuakaew Abhayavongsa
The Bunnag Lineage Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suvadhana 1906 births Thai people of Khmer descent 1985 deaths Abhaiwongse family 20th-century Thai women 20th-century Chakri dynasty Thai princesses consort Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit Dames Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao Princesses by marriage
Siam
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
. Her original name was Khrueakaeo Abhayavongsa ( th, เครือแก้ว อภัยวงศ์; ). She was born a commoner; her father was Lord Abhayabhupesa (Lueam Abhayavongsa) and her mother was Ms. Lek Bunnag.
Life and marriage
Khrueakaeo first met King Vajiravudh in 1924 during a dramatic production, in which they both acted. Soon after, Khrueakaeo was renamed Suvadhana and elevated to the rank of a minor consort. Later that same year they were married at the Grand Palace inBangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...
. Although King Vajiravudh initiated many Siamese nationalistic policies of the 1920s, his queen Suvadhana was of Khmer descent of Phratabong province (Battambang
Battambang ( km, បាត់ដំបង, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang Province and the third largest city in Cambodia.
Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is the leading rice-producing province of the coun ...
). Suvadhana's grand aunt, Khun Chom Iem Busba, was the wife of King Norodom I of Cambodia.Sokheounpang. Khmer-Siam Royal Family Tree
'' Retrieved 27 January 2013 When Suvadhana became pregnant in 1925, the King elevated her rank to that of Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana (HRH Princess Suvadhana, Princess Consort of Siam; th, พระนางเจ้าสุวัทนา พระวรราชเทวี). Not soon after the King fell gravely ill, on the 24 November 1925, Suvadhana gave birth to a daughter, Princess
Bejaratana Rajasuda
Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda ( th, เพชรรัตนราชสุดา; ; , 24 November 1925 – 27 July 2011) was the only child of the King Vajiravudh of Thailand. She was a first cousin of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and third cousin of ...
.
Exile in England
The Princess and her daughter continued to live at the Dusit Palace
Dusit Palace ( th, พระราชวังดุสิต, RTGS: ''Phra Ratcha Wang Dusit'') is a compound of royal residences in Bangkok, Thailand. Constructed over a large area north of Rattanakosin Island between 1897 and 1901 by King C ...
, raising her daughter during the reign of her husband's younger brother King Prajadhipok. In 1938, as war loomed, the Princess and her daughter emigrated to the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, following the example of Prajadhipok who went in exile there in 1935. First she lived at Fairhill Villa in Camberley, Surrey, she later moved to Brighton. During the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
the Princess volunteered for the British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom body of the worldwide neutral and impartial humanitarian network the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with more ...
, donating winter clothes and other equipments to British soldiers; she later received a letter of recommendation from the organization. She would spend 22 years in England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, she made her own living by investing in stocks and bonds; living a comfortable lifestyle with Thai servants.
Return and later life
The Princess and her daughter returned toThailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
permanently in 1957. They bought some land on Sukhumvit Road Soi 38, and build the Ruenruedi Villa Palace. During her later years she carried out many royal duties and became patron of many charitable organizations. Suvadhana died at Siriraj Hospital on the 10 October 1985 at the age of 79, her funeral was presided over by King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
(or Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit
Queen Sirikit ( th, สิริกิติ์; ; ); born ''Mom Rajawongse'' Sirikit Kitiyakara ( th, สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; ; 12 August 1932) is the queen mother of Thailand. She was Queen of Thailand as the wif ...
.
Honours
* The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri ( th, เครื่องขัตติยราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันมีเกียรติคุณรุ่งเรืองยิ่งมหาจัก ...
* Dame Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
* Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit
__NOTOC__
The Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit ( th, เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ตรารัตนวราภรณ์; ) was established on 1 August 1911 by King Rama VI of The Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand ...
* King Rama VI Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
* King Rama VII Royal Cypher Medal (Second Class)
* King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)
* The Red Cross Commendation Medal
Ancestors
References
Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana Kreuakaew Abhayavongsa
External links
The Bunnag Lineage Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suvadhana 1906 births Thai people of Khmer descent 1985 deaths Abhaiwongse family 20th-century Thai women 20th-century Chakri dynasty Thai princesses consort Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit Dames Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao Princesses by marriage